At least 18 Palestinians were killed on Saturday in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian medics. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted militants operating from shelters and aid storages.
An airstrike near the municipal building in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza killed at least 10 people, including civilians who had gathered to receive aid. Casualties were transported to hospitals by foot, rickshaws, and private cars. A Hamas source said the strike also killed the head of the Hamas-run administrative committee in the region. The Israeli military confirmed it was investigating the incident.
Another strike targeted militants and weapon caches near an aid warehouse, according to the military, after rockets were reportedly fired from the area into Israel. In Gaza City, a separate attack on a former shelter housing displaced people killed at least seven individuals, including a woman and her baby, Palestinian medics said. The military stated the attack targeted Hamas fighters while precautions were taken to reduce civilian harm.
In a separate incident, a local journalist was reportedly killed in an airstrike in Gaza City. The Israeli military said it was looking into the claim.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale assault on Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking over 250 hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel launched a comprehensive offensive by air, sea, and land, which Palestinian authorities say has killed over 44,000 people, mostly civilians, and displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza.
Recent diplomatic efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to negotiate a ceasefire and a hostages-for-prisoners exchange have gained momentum. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed these initiatives with U.S. officials during a meeting on Saturday, according to his office.
The ongoing violence has left Gaza in ruins, displaced its population, and caused significant humanitarian and political repercussions. Efforts to secure a ceasefire and increase humanitarian aid continue as international actors work to de-escalate the situation.
